Prime Minister of Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks, today, at the state memorial ceremony for the late Ze'ev Jabotinsky, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem: “To all my friends and colleagues who guard and preserve the legacy of Ze'ev Jabotinsky: I thank you, and I believe I do so also on behalf of the members of the Jabotinsky family who are present here today. Dear friends, a cross-generational, historical debate has long centered on the question: Which is greater – the sword or the pen? Does military power and the achievements of war shape the world, or is the power of words and ideas stronger, more influential, and eternal? For Jabotinsky, this was not a dichotomous question, a view that only recognizes opposing extremes. It is not black or white; it is the combination of both. Jabotinsky naturally exchanged the pen for the sword, and the sword for the pen. The sword protects the nation and its values, while the pen grants meaning and heritage to our national existence. I open with this because these days mark 100 years since the completion of Jabotinsky's seminal book, ‘Samson’. I do not know if you are aware of this, but a Hollywood film was actually based on this book by Jabotinsky. The biblical Samson, one of the greatest judges of the Biblical era, fought Israel’s enemies, including in Gaza. Samson tore apart a young lion with his bare hands; he was as strong as a lion himself. We have done the same this past year, through Operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion, in which we struck severe blows against the terrorist regime in Iran and its proxies. Jabotinsky’s Samson bequeaths a command to his successors: ‘Gather iron.’ We, too, are determined to gather iron, to amass the vital weaponry required to defend our state, and we are turning toward a path of domestic manufacturing independence. Alongside our gratitude to our American allies who assist us in arming ourselves, Israel must establish an independent weapons-production infrastructure. I want to clarify another point: There is no perfect match between the Biblical Samson and Jabotinsky’s Samson. He exercised writer's license, but despite the differences between the characters, heroism remains the unifying message. Jabotinsky pinned great hopes on Hebrew youth, believing they would establish a Hebrew army and self-sacrificingly defend the Land of Israel. I think we can say now, three years into the War of Redemption, that these hopes are being realized beyond all expectations. Following in the footsteps of Israel’s past wars, the War of Redemption has revealed the wondrous strengths of our younger generation. In the Government, we made wise and courageous decisions to act step-by-step against those who seek our lives. Concurrently, our heroic fighters – soldiers and commanders, men and women alike – acted step-by-step with immense daring on land, in the air, and at sea to crush the Iranian axis of evil, which sought to encircle us in a ring of terror. And here is a deeply moving closure of a circle from recent days, stretching from the Bible to Jabotinsky, and from Jabotinsky to the heroes of the present: Author Tzur Ehrlich dedicated his new song, ‘Samsons’ , to the late Avraham Azoulay of the Engineering Corps and his fellow heavy excavator operators. Avraham, one of the trailblazers who cleared the paths in the Gaza Strip, fell in battle a year ago. The song speaks of these new Samsons: ‘And what a hand they have, and what an arm, to tear apart evil. Great as a raging mountain, their muscles are the first to engage the fire.’ Distinguished guests, Jabotinsky resented the tendency in certain circles of our people to cling to fashionable, temporary worldviews: Territorialism, cosmopolitanism, Marxism, communism, anarchism. He believed that if one does adopt an ideology ending in ‘-ism,’ it must serve the national cause. Thus, Jabotinsky is identified with Revisionism: Revising and changing the political course of the Zionist movement in the face of the anti-Zionist policy of the British Mandate government. My late father was a student at the Hebrew University. He told me that the first time he saw Jabotinsky, it was on the ridge overlooking Jerusalem at the High Commissioner's Palace, there was a Commissioner residing there, and Jabotinsky stood outside, directly facing the British soldiers. He defied the Commissioner and said: ‘I speak freely. You will leave here, you will all leave here, because this is our land.’ My father was completely captivated. He witnessed that courage, that immense daring, and that sense of sacrifice, because such actions carried a heavy personal cost, as you well know. That was his first encounter, which was followed a few years later by another meeting, when my father traveled to London and explained to Jabotinsky that if he wanted to realize his vision, he had to change his location: International support for Zionism would not be decided in England, but in America. ‘You will not convince the English. Convince the Americans, and they will force the English’, that is what my father told him. Jabotinsky called the entire delegation that was with him and said: ‘The lad’, well, not quite a lad, my father was 29 at the time, ‘is right.’ They packed up their belongings, traveled to the United States, and there, as you know, a short time later, Jabotinsky passed away. My father was one of his pallbearers. But Jabotinsky possessed a vision that infected everyone who walked in his path. Instead of appeasement and restraint, he championed firmness, a policy of pressure, and standing strong on vital interests. We, too, have made a fundamental revision to our security doctrine. Two days after the horrific October 7 attack and massacre, I promised that we would change the face of the Middle East. And indeed, we have changed the rules of the game: there is no more containment of threats. There are no more terrorist armies on our borders. There are buffer zones that we created deep within our neighbors' territories. The Gaza envelope is now inside Gaza. The Lebanon envelope is inside Lebanon. The Golan envelope is inside Syria. We changed the region, but first and foremost, we changed ourselves. We broke the barrier of fear that gripped the entire world for 47 years, ever since Iran was hijacked by that group of theological thugs. No one dared to attack Iran on its own soil, except Saddam Hussein for a brief period. But we dared, and how we dared. We proved that we would not hesitate to strike back with immense power, anywhere, against anyone who raises a hand against us. This revision, changing the old order, is also reflected in our efforts to forge alliances. Thanks to the consistent cultivation of our power, various nations are seeking to become closer to us. This is a cooperation that is growing stronger behind the scenes; it is happening, and not just in one or two countries. This also opens the future door to normalization and peace. A complementary aspect of contemporary Revisionism is, and I will use a word that might surprise some of you, contemporary activism. ‘Activism’ is another core principle championed by Jabotinsky. He meant a policy of taking the initiative, taking our fate into our own hands, waging an uncompromising struggle against hostile forces, and initiating moves that serve national goals. Israeli initiative made a massive leap forward in this current war. We settled accounts with those who wish us harm, from Gaza to Yemen, from Lebanon to Iran. We acted with power, took the offensive and used stratagems against the Iranian axis, which for years had invested hundreds of billions of dollars to bleed us. We brought back our hostages, down to the very last one. We crushed much of the military capabilities of Iran and its proxies. We removed the immediate danger of a nuclear-armed Iran. I pledge once again: As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. One of the pillars of Jabotinsky’s activist approach is the ‘Iron Wall’ principle. However, today’s iron wall is not a static wall, a defense system rooted in a single location. The wall is dynamic. It moves from theater to theater with our pilots, with our missile boat and submarine crews, and with our infantry forces maneuvering on the ground. Yet, it also has components rooted in the soil. I refer, of course, to those security buffer zones that we maintain and will continue to maintain as long as we face danger from neighboring countries. The iron wall is also a wall of alertness and determination. We continue to maintain high alertness in the face of every danger. Anyone who seeks friction will get friction. Anyone who wants a battle will get a battle. Anyone who misjudges our determination will pay a very heavy price. I say this to the tyrants in Iran: Do not mistake us. If we are attacked, we will respond with power. But it will not be a replay. It will be a different event altogether, and even more powerful. Jabotinsky, the father of military Zionism, was not a bloodthirsty militarist. He emphasized the necessity of Jewish power in the face of the packs of wolves surrounding us, but at the same time, he emphasized the moral dimension of our struggle. Today, we are fighting against the barbaric fanaticism that threatens us and the entire free world. The campaign is for life itself, and concurrently, for freedom, culture, and progress. This approach aligns with Jabotinsky’s stance on the warmongers of both World Wars. He saw the Ottoman Empire, which was among those responsible for World War I, as a predatory regime destined to pass from this world. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Jabotinsky continued his moral line: He advocated for the establishment of a Hebrew army to fight alongside the Allies against Nazi Germany to save our people, and at the same time, to save civilization and democracy. My father had the privilege of being alongside Jabotinsky during his final days in the United States. He later wrote: ‘From the resistance to tyranny and the standing on independence stemmed that activist concept, which constituted the essence of Jabotinsky’s doctrine and from which his main contributions to Zionism flowed.’ Distinguished guests and friends, Jabotinsky, the lighthouse of Zionism, continues to project his leadership and spirit onto the builders and defenders of the State. Israel is stronger than ever, and we are acting to ensure that it will be far stronger in the future. Many great challenges still lie ahead of us. I grew up with Jabotinsky. I remember Eri Jabotinsky [Ze'ev's son] from his many visits to our home. I remember the dear Jabotinsky family. I read his writings and his words as a youth, and later as an adult. I cherish him as one of the founding fathers of Zionism, a man without whose teachings it is doubtful we would be standing here today. May the memory of Ze'ev Jabotinsky be blessed for generations to come.” Photo: Kobi Gideon (GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks today, at the 2026 Negev Conference in Dimona, led by the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, and the Negev Development Authority: "My friends, dear friends, Sara and I are very happy to see you all here. In the spirit of this slogan: 'Together, the Negev wins.' Not will win – but wins! I want to welcome my fellow ministers, Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, Members of Knesset, the mayors, the heads of regional councils, and the directors-general. And a special thank you to our host, who shies away from the spotlight and is never willing to speak his mind, Benny, I love you. I appreciate you. I appreciate and love what you have done here, in Dimona. Everything has turned around. Go outside, look at these towers, look at the institutions, look at the roads, look at the interchanges, look at the train, look at the demand. There is nowhere we can fully meet the demand right now. We have added thousands of housing units, and we need more. Israelis are choosing and voting with their feet. We have made a revolution here. I am proud of it, because it expresses what I believe in from the bottom of my soul, and I know you do too: I want to eliminate the concept of the 'periphery' in the State of Israel. There is the Galilee, there is the Negev, there is the Center, and you can get from here to there in minutes, in under an hour. This is the vision, and it is being realized. We are moving forward and implementing it. But I also want to say, Benny, largely thanks to you, Dimona is now on the map with a strength we have never seen before. Not just today, but always! And this conference is an important event, but I tell you again: Dimona used to be a g-dforsaken town. There were hundreds of vacant apartments here infested with cockroaches, and they had to be sealed off and demolished. They became a health hazard. That is what was here. And then our governments came. It took some time, but I am very happy to be here, and I make an effort to visit the Negev at every opportunity, along with my wife Sara. Just in the last two weeks, I personally congratulated the ground forces officers' training course at IDF Training Base #1 in Mitzpe Ramon, and stood with the graduates of the pilots' course at the IAF’s Hatzerim Airbase. And a year ago, on the eve of Operation Rising Lion, I made a very significant visit to Yeruham. Have you seen the new apartments in Yeruham? You have to see it. It is unbelievable, simply amazing. This doesn't happen on its own: It happens through our initiative, together with local leaders, and then it moves like a racecar. At the beginning of this year, I conducted a comprehensive tour of the Western Negev, as part of the effort to strengthen and develop the region, while simultaneously fighting nationalistic crime in the south. This is a very major task, and I am also trying to involve the ISA in this effort. We are running into some issues, but we will overcome them too. I also add the visit I made with my wife Sara to Kibbutz Nir Oz last summer. I said there in clear terms: we will rebuild the region affected by the terrible massacre of October 7 many times over. And that is exactly what we are doing in practice, with the help of the Tekuma Authority, led by our friend Moshe Edri, who is currently not far from here; we visited him at the textile factory. He has done a wonderful job in the Tekuma region, with a massive investment of billions of shekels. And the results speak for themselves: The Tekuma region is experiencing an unprecedented demographic leap and record growth. This region is the fastest-growing in the country. To all the skeptics who asked 'What will be?', 'We won't be able to rebuild,' 'You abandoned them,' 'You left' – the exact opposite is true, of course. The number of residents in the area today is larger than the number of residents on the eve of the terrorist attack. Veteran residents are returning, new residents are joining, and communities are growing anew, in the kibbutzim, the moshavim, and also in the cities of the northern Western Negev: Sderot, Netivot and Ofakim. The fundamental principle guiding us is a double principle: Security and prosperity. Security comes before everything else. Back at the beginning of the previous decade, I ordered the construction of the long barrier along the Israel-Egypt border, a fence of over 200 kilometers. Today let's speak frankly: Within our own establishment, they didn't want to build it. They told me: 'Prime Minister, we will build a virtual fence.' Do you know what a 'virtual fence' is? I asked what it was. They told me: 'But it is impossible to build along all those 200 kilometers from Gaza to Eilat.' I said: 'Yes, it is.' I think Sara and I had just returned from a visit to China, where we walked on the Great Wall of China, which was a bit longer than 200 kilometers. It managed to hold off the Mongols on the other side pretty well for centuries. I said that this is exactly what we are going to do, and we did it. This stopped the entry of smugglers and, of course, hundreds of thousands of infiltrators, reducing it to zero, as well as the spillover of terrorism from the Sinai Peninsula. Thanks to this fence, we preserved Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Otherwise, there would have been another million illegal infiltrators here, which would change the entire country. I am not saying we do not face challenges in the Negev. We know these challenges. We are confronting them. We are determined to take strong action against anyone who undermines our security, and we are strengthening the state’s hold, particularly around our borders. “This means one thing: Where is the Gaza envelope today? Today it is inside Gaza. Where is the Lebanon envelope today? Inside Lebanon. Where is the Golan envelope? Inside Syria. This is a new concept. We have changed our entire approach. I must say, when people asked me, ‘What is the difference between before October 7th and after?’ I said: We are changing it. I am taking the reins, and I am changing it. We do not have a military with a state. Even though the military is fantastic, it is not good at statecraft and policy. That is the responsibility of the statesmen, and we took responsibility and led the country onto a different path: A path of initiative, action, and attack, not containment. Indeed, this is a polar shift, and the change we made has not only changed the face of the Middle East, it has also changed us. We are filled with determination to defend ourselves, and we are ready to remove any barrier of fear that once existed. You know what our greatest achievement is? We broke through the barrier of fear. I cannot tell you what will happen in Iran; many things could happen. We are prepared for any scenario. I can tell you only one thing, and I will say this to the leaders of Iran: Do not count on it being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun. Because it will not be a rerun, and that was already powerful enough. This will be a different event, much more powerful. The days when someone hurts us and we do not strike them back twofold are over. We did this to the Axis of Evil in Iran, and we will continue to do so to anyone who harms us. That is what we do. This is the first leg, security, both in the Negev and across the entire country. But the second leg is prosperity. This is a combination of extensive government investment in infrastructure alongside investment from the private sector: entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners. We have deployed this transportation infrastructure across the country; you can see it in the railway tracks in the South, the roads, the interchanges, the bridges, and the tunnels, and this infrastructure shortens the travel time from the center of the country to the Negev, and from the Negev to the center. This is the key to the future, and this is what is happening. This is what is happening in the Western Negev.’ This is what will happen in Ziklag we are building Israel's additional airport, and it will be built very quickly. You will see what an incredible boost this will give to the Western Negev, and to the Negev as a whole. We are not settling for just that, because I want to run a railway line from Kiryat Shmona all the way to Eilat. That, too, will happen. I say this to anyone who has any doubt regarding our commitment to the Negev. It is immense, it is real, it is happening, and it grows stronger from year to year. We are bringing great news to Eilat and its surrounding area; we will develop Ramon Airport, we will upgrade the transportation arteries in the region, and once again, I am committed to bringing the train from Eilat to Kiryat Shmona. This truly connects the State of Israel. I ask only one thing of you: Inform your residents and tell them what we are doing here. Because if they ask the media channels, except for one, they will hear about how the Negev is being abandoned. Tell them one thing: Look around you, look at your community, look at what was here then and what is here now – and ask yourselves which governments invested in this monumental effort. And I do this out of immense love.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, today, at the Negev Conference in Dimona - in a message to Iran's leaders: "We are prepared for any scenario. I can tell you only one thing, and I will say this to the leaders of Iran: Do not count on it being quiet if you attack us. Do not count on a rerun. Because it will not be a rerun, and that was already powerful enough. This will be a different event, much more powerful. The days when someone hurts us and we do not strike them back twofold are over. We did this to the Axis of Evil in Iran, and we will continue to do so to anyone who harms us. That is what we do."

The Government approved the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation and Road Safety Minister Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Miri Regev, to name Route 443 ‘The Levites' Way’ in memory of Minister David Levy, of blessed memory, along the section of the road between the Ben Shemen Interchange and the Beituniya-Givat Ze'ev Junction. This decision commemorates the legacy and long-standing achievements of the late David Levy, who served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Construction and Housing Minister, Aliyah and Integration Minister, and as a Member of Knesset for decades, and worked to promote social equality, strengthen the periphery, and narrow gaps in Israeli society. In addition to commemorating the name of David Levy, it was determined that the road will also be called ‘The Levites' Way’ in recognition of the historical and heritage connection of the region to the Tribe of Levi and the priests, as well as to the Modi'in area, which is identified with the Hasmonean family. Route 443 is one of the most central and important transportation arteries in the State of Israel, connecting Jerusalem, Modi'in, Judea and Samaria, the Judean foothills and the center of the country, which is used daily by hundreds of thousands of drivers. In accordance with the Government's decision, the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, will work to update the signage along the road, and the Government Secretariat will act to publish the new name in the official gazette. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "The late David Levy was a dedicated public servant who contributed immensely to the State of Israel. From his childhood in Beit She'an, he broke barriers and reached the leadership of the nation, where he championed social action and assistance for disadvantaged populations, while promoting peripheral towns. He was a loyal representative of the State of Israel and stood our ground proudly before the nations of the world. We are proud today to commemorate his memory on a road that connects our capital, Jerusalem, with the center of the country, as a symbol of a man who dedicated his life and energy to the unity of Israel." Transportation and Road Safety Minister Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Miri Regev: "The late David Levy was one of the most prominent leaders of the State of Israel, who worked throughout his life for the unity of the nation, the promotion of the periphery, and social justice. Naming one of the central transportation arteries in Israel after him is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the service of the state and Israeli society, ensuring that his legacy will continue to guide future generations."

Remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu at the state ceremony marking 50 years since Operation Yonatan at the President's Residence >> gov.il/he/pages/event…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Sara and I grieve with the American people over the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. In our recent meeting, I said, "Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey." Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world. Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend. Our hearts are with Lindsey's family and with the American people at this difficult time. May his values and initiatives continue to guide us toward victory and peace, and may his memory forever be a blessing. 🇮🇱🇺🇸

Happy Independence Day, Argentina! 🇦🇷 Viva la libertad! @JMilei

The Prime Minister’s Office: As part of the continuous contact between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, an additional conversation took place this evening between the two, during which the continued coordination between the countries in various sectors was established. President Trump updated the Prime Minister on American moves in the Gulf. The Prime Minister, on his part, raised the severity of the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his people against the existence of the State of Israel, as well as the need for security zones along Israel's borders.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today at the Graduation Ceremony of the IAF Pilot’s Course (Wings Ceremony). Full Remarks > > gov.il/en/pages/event…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the Commander of the Israeli aid delegation to Venezuela and Chief of Staff of the Home Front Command, Brig. Gen. Elad Edri, and with Israel's ambassador-designate to Mexico, Yoed Magen. The Israeli aid delegation has been operating throughout the country for the past ten days, in several areas affected by the earthquake, with the aim of assisting in the reconstruction phase through the assessment and classification of damaged buildings, as well as through other activities. gov.il/en/pages/event…

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's directive to advance the recommendations of the Public Committee to examine Israel’s national response for treating and rehabilitating wounded IDF and security forces personnel, chaired by Prof. Mor-Yosef, a professional discussion was held today involving all the relevant government ministries, led by Deputy Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office, Drorit Steinmetz. The main points of the Committee's recommendations were previously presented to the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Finance, who emphasized the supreme importance they attribute to improving the response for disabled veterans of the IDF and security forces. They directed the professional staff in their ministries, in coordination with the Prime Minister's Office, to formulate a government decision that will adopt the Committee's recommendations and provide a comprehensive response to the disabled veterans' needs. During the discussion, the relevant government ministries coordinated their efforts, and the required professional and budgetary aspects were examined in order to finalize the government decision draft, which is set to include a series of steps to enhance the apparatus of care, rehabilitation and support provided to disabled veterans of the IDF and security forces. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was decided that the professional staff would complete the staff work and draft the government decision as soon as possible, in order to bring it for government approval within the next few days. This development reflects the shared commitment of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Finance to improving the response for disabled veterans of the IDF and security forces, whose great contribution to the security of the State of Israel is manifested in a heavy personal price, with the goal of finalizing the decision quickly and responsibly.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited wounded IDF regular and reserve soldiers at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We are not giving up, and you are right about one thing, Yonatan. There is far more unity within the nation than what is reflected later in the Knesset. Much more unity, much broader, much deeper and I believe this is a strong foundation for the future, and you represent that. I admire you, and I am always inspired by your spirit. I am not just saying this superficially. I am truly inspired. I know you are going on a difficult journey. It is not easy, but your spirit is tremendous. I don't think there is anywhere else in the world that provides better care. On the contrary, I say there is nowhere else in the world that delivers with this level of skill, speed, spirit and success. Therefore, I wish you both good health and a full recovery." The Prime Minister was accompanied by Rambam Director General Dr. Michal Mekel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Haifa Naval Base today, together with the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Eyal Harel. During the visit, the Prime Minister received an operational briefing on the navy's activities and spoke with the fighters at the base. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "I am here at the Haifa port, at the naval base with the Commander of the Navy. I received a comprehensive briefing on our capabilities, and they are impressive. You can see some of them here. I have set a simple goal: The goal of the Navy, and of the State of Israel, is to ensure the shipping lanes and the freedom of maritime trade, which are so vital to the State of Israel. I am impressed by what you have done so far, and by what you plan to do together with the rest of the security forces. I wish you great success."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks today, at the state memorial ceremony for Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl: "This year, once again, Herzl Memorial Day finds us in the midst of a multi-arena campaign, a campaign that is a stubborn struggle against enemies who seek to extinguish the candle of Israel. This year, too, we draw strength from the Zionist vision of Herzl, who wrote in his story 'The Menorah' about the victory of light: 'The darkness will completely pass. The light will shine for everyone, for the lovers of justice, truth, freedom, progress, humanity, and beauty.' Many challenges lie ahead of us, but just as it was with Herzl, the willpower to overcome every obstacle is stronger than the bumps along the way. It must be said that since Herzl's day, the world has changed beyond recognition: Old empires have fallen; new countries have been born, including our own state; and human knowledge has broken the boundaries of imagination. But despite these far-reaching changes, the national idea that preoccupied Herzl remains intact: Our people, the People of Israel, are deepening their roots in the Land of Israel. We have established a strong, progressive, high-achieving state in our historic homeland. Almost every day, and this is no exaggeration, I see Herzl's tidings regarding the Jewish State being realized in practice. By the way, he predicted many things. He thought we might speak German, which everyone likes to latch onto. Well, he didn't predict everything, and he wasn't right about everything. But he predicted the core essence with precision. Herzl wrote in his book ‘Altneuland’ about children playing sports, on lawns in the streets of Jerusalem. A few days ago, at the opening ceremony of the 'Maccabiah' in Jerusalem, we saw young people playing sports on the grass of Teddy Stadium, real grass, by the way. I saw thousands of Jewish athletes from all over the world standing tall with immense pride. Herzl was deeply fascinated by scientific and technological innovation, by inventions that improve human quality of life. In Israel, the high-tech, cyber, and now also the artificial intelligence industries, not to mention all the pharma, medical devices, and many other things being added to this, in Israel, these industries establish our status as a global technological superpower. Herzl knew that we would need a defensive force, a Hebrew army that would protect our state from those who wish us harm. And indeed, we are all filled with wonder at the extraordinary heroism of our soldiers and commanders, in the War of Redemption. Herzl knew the map of the Middle East very well. He mentions Mt. Hermon, Damascus, and Lebanon in his writings. And indeed, our fighters today look out over Syria from the crown of Mt. Hermon, hold the peak of the Beaufort in Lebanon, and operate with determination in the Litani region. Israel will remain in Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North and all citizens of Israel. Honored guests, the forces that drove Herzl to create the magnificent enterprise of the Zionist movement still exist even after 130 years. On one side is the negative force, antisemitism. Herzl saw the hatred of Jews in Europe up close. He understood that the Jewish people would always have haters, and that this severe hatred requires us to unite and establish a state of our own. These waves of antisemitism, as my late father, Prof. Benzion Netanyahu, told and wrote to me, rise and fall, rise and fall, changing their garments and putting on new ones. And this challenge requires one single answer: A Jewish state. Because that hatred, that lie, that injustice directed at the Jewish state, was previously directed at the Jews themselves. With one difference: back then, the hatred was a prelude to slaughter, but today, after the hatred, when they come to slaughter us, we wage a fierce counter-war. And we will not allow another Holocaust to occur, not from here, not from there, and certainly not from Iran. And as long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. But I heard that there are also innovations regarding antisemitism, because I recently heard that France is posthumously promoting the Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus, who at the end of the 19th century was falsely accused of treason. This is, of course, the Dreyfus Affair that motivated Herzl. So I think that truly, after 130 years, it's about time. I say this, if you haven't caught on, with a touch of irony. It's about time, and perhaps the day will come when the blood libels against the State of Israel and the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, such as the absurd libels heard at the Court in The Hague, will also turn into scattered dust. We, in any case, do not bow our heads before the defamatory words of our oppressors. We will continue to fight this toxic antisemitism in every way. But antisemitism was only the first force that drove Herzl. He saw, he foresaw, he wrote more than thirty times about the Holocaust that would take place in Europe, and therefore he sought a solution. But there was also a positive force that drove Herzl to action: To return the control over our destiny into our own hands. To turn us into a productive people that sustains itself and contributes to the family of nations. It must be understood that Herzl innovated something fundamental here: He took love of Zion, which among other things drove my great-grandfather to immigrate to the Land of Israel and to Rishon LeZion in 1896. And there were others, pioneers, who were driven by this sentiment of longing for Zion, the love of Zion. He attached the word 'political' to love of Zion. Political Zionism, which is involved in the affairs of the wider world and acts on the world stage! Herzl navigated his path, with wisdom and audacity, between the palaces of kings and the halls of rulers. He stood before world leaders as the proud representative of the thousands-of-years-old Jewish people. He took their interests into account while presenting our interests in a clear manner. Herzl's path is our path. While we are attentive to the interests of our allies, we stand firm on the vital interests of Israel, and in this context, I repeat what I said a few sentences ago, it is important to say it again: With an agreement or without an agreement, we will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons! Herzl himself described how he wove the threads of action out of attentiveness to the collective interests of the arbiters of fate in those days: In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in Turkey, in Russia, in France, in Great Britain, in Italy, and I add: In Germany as well. He operated in secular circles and in religious circles, among Jewish capitalists, and among the pioneers in the Land of Israel. Herzl called his political craft: 'A balancing act.' Thus, he placed the Jewish issue on the agenda of many nations. We, too, who follow in Herzl's footsteps, are diligent in establishing political alliances across a vast expanse. In Biblical terms, one could say, 'from India to Cush'; and I choose my words here carefully: 'from India to Cush,' from India to Africa, of course. From the edges of Asia to the edges of Africa, and even beyond. Thanks to the systematic cultivation of our strength, our military, intelligence, technological, and economic strength, we are bringing many countries closer to us. I believe that with some of them, we will achieve normalization and peace. But I want to tell you more than that: world leaders, who refrain from expressing public support for Israel, sound different in the private conversations they hold with me. They deeply appreciate Israel's determination to fight radical Islam, which threatens them as well. They tell me: 'Prime Minister, we are with you. Public opinion at home does not allow us to say it openly, but we admire you. We need your help.' Look what a blessed path we have traveled from Herzl's day until today. And another essential point, especially this year: these days, we are marking 50 years since Operation Yonatan, one of Israel's most daring operations in all its years of existence. Seventy-three years separate the Uganda Scheme, which Herzl initially accepted, from the heroic action of IDF fighters in Entebbe, Uganda, to rescue the hostages of our people. My grandfather, Rabbi Nathan Mileikowsky Netanyahu, of blessed memory, was a follower of Herzl. He also participated in the Zionist Congress in The Hague a few years after Herzl's passing, alongside Ahad Ha'am, Jabotinsky, and I believe Bialik was there as well. When he heard about the Uganda Scheme, he was forced, for the only time in his life, to come out against the man he admired above all else, against Herzl. And why did Herzl do it? Why did he pursue the Uganda Scheme? Because he foresaw things with the precision of a prophet. He understood, he foresaw the Holocaust, and he sought to get the Jews out and save them from what he understood was going to happen on European soil. And my late father asked my grandfather, 'Why did you oppose the Uganda Scheme so fiercely? Did you think Britain would not keep its promise?' He answered him, 'No. It was precisely because I thought Britain would let us establish ourselves in Uganda that I opposed it. Because if we had gone to Uganda, we would not have reached the Land of Israel, and we would have lost the glue that unites the entire Jewish people, all those whom we want to bring to the Land of Israel under Zionism, which is the only place where the new Jewish sovereignty can be realized.' So my grandfather opposed the Uganda Scheme, and a year after its presentation, Herzl retracted it, stood at the podium, and said in Hebrew: 'If I forget thee, O Jerusalem.' He said it. He understood that too. But look at what a chasm lies between the two Ugandas. The settlement plan in Uganda, which Herzl viewed as a 'night refuge', yes, a temporary station away from persecutions, expressed the absolute helplessness of our people in the Diaspora. We had to turn to others, hoping they would save us from the Holocaust, and of course, they did not save us. Whereas the arrival of IDF fighters, the arrival of the fighters of the Jewish State, in Uganda to liberate the hostages from the hands of their captors by force of arms, expressed independence; it expressed strength in the spirit of Zionism's goals. The essence of the spirit of Entebbe, achieving what seemed impossible, was moral clarity, courage, and brilliant operational capability. Israel dealt a blow to international terrorism then, and today too, Israel leads the war against terrorist regimes. Iran, with operations and maneuvers that astound the world, I think there was also another element here; on the eve of the Entebbe operation, there was immense cohesion, a great unity within the nation. And today, as we face the great challenges and opportunities ahead of us, we must seek to overcome differences, there are always differences, and there always will be, and unite the nation. I think we will be required to establish a national government that is as broad as possible, and I think we rely on the greatest strength we have, which is our wonderful people, who give birth to and bring forth our magnificent fighters, and who have shown extraordinary resilience. Those leaders who speak with me, they ask me: 'How are you, such a small country, where do you find the strength?' And I tell them, we have it because we are an ancient people determined to protect its future, and there is none like it. This nation stood a difficult test; upon Herzl's passing, there was a massive fracture. In 1918, 14 years after his untimely death, one year after the Balfour Declaration, it was written in a Hebrew newspaper published in New York and Berlin, here is what was written: 'On this day we anchor our ship, looking back to see the distance we have traveled. Whether we are walking on the straight path, the path our leader showed us, and renewing our strength to walk further.' This year as well, on Herzl Day, we look back. The straight path continues. The fire of vision and realization continues to burn within us. Our strength is with us to walk further, to ensure the existence of the People of Israel in the Land of Israel, for the foundation of our path is the Eternity of Israel. May the memory of the visionary of our state, Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl, be blessed forever."

The Israel High-Tech Association at the Manufacturers Association of Israel and the National AI Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office, held a consultation today with high-tech industry representatives as part of the National Artificial Intelligence Program. Following the Government's approval of the National Artificial Intelligence Program, the first consultation of the National AI Directorate with high-tech industry representatives took place today at the Industry House. The meeting, initiated by the Israeli High-Tech Association at the Manufacturers Association of Israel together with the National AI Directorate at the Prime Minister's Office, is a significant part of a series of consultation meetings with the Israeli market. These meetings aim to map out needs, identify strategic partners, and explore collaborations ahead of the establishment of the National AI Institute. The National Program includes, among other initiatives, the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Institute, providing access to advanced processing power infrastructures, and promoting AI solutions to address the daily challenges of the state, the market, and the industry. During the meeting, which was attended by 11 of the market's leading high-tech companies, the participating companies emphasized the importance of continuing this joint forum in the future to serve as a voice for the high-tech industry in front of the Directorate. Additionally, the operational concept of the National Directorate was presented, which seeks to transform Israel into a nation that bridges AI capabilities with real-world challenges. In this framework, the National Institute is expected to promote solutions across all layers of the technology stack, including cyber, physical AI, computing infrastructure, 360-degree protected systems, and advanced applications connecting the computer world with real life. Furthermore, the program's innovation vision was discussed, aiming to turn Israel into a global superpower through the development, investment, and implementation of AI solutions. This will be achieved by connecting real challenges with advanced technological applications to meet the needs of industry, the state, and society. Shahar Bracha, Deputy Director of the National AI Directorate at the Prime Minister's Office: "These days, we are formulating the model for implementing the National AI Program and conducting consultation rounds with the entire Israeli market. The purpose of these consultations is to understand the needs on the ground, find business partners, and together build a national infrastructure that will enable Israel to grow, lead, and operate in the global market. Our vision is to bring AI face-to-face with the challenges of life itself and make Israel the most attractive place in the world for connecting real challenges with AI-based solutions." Alon Ben-Zur, Chairman of the Israeli High-Tech Association at the Manufacturers Association of Israel and CEO of Bynet Data Communications: "To ensure that Israel remains at the global forefront of artificial intelligence, the state and the industry must work together. We welcome the move led by Shahar Bracha and the National AI Directorate team, and the decision to involve the industry as early as the program's formulation and the establishment of the National AI Institute. Israeli high-tech companies possess world-class knowledge, experience, and execution capabilities, and we see great importance in creating a true, ongoing partnership that will translate these advantages into growth, innovation, and solutions that will impact the economy and the lives of citizens." Participating companies: Oracle, HP, Check Point, Armis, Kaltura, Kyndryl, ELTA, Bynet, CodeValue, and HPE. Photos: The Israeli High-Tech Association at the Manufacturers Association of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara participated in the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center, along with Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. The heritage center is set to be established in the historic terminal building in Atarot, as part of the initiatives marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Yonatan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "My friends, my wife Sara and I are deeply moved by this occasion, as are my brother Iddo and his wife. My family and I are thrilled to be with you in this special place, at this special moment, which can be encapsulated in just a few words: In Atarot, we are restoring former glory. I always say: In public life, you need to have a compass. A compass dictates a path, an ideology. Ultimately, the compass points toward the desired direction. In our case: North. I do not mean only the north of our country, where we are determined to restore security, prosperity, and growth. On this occasion, I mean northern Jerusalem, an area of immense importance for the development of the capital, the development of our united capital, Jerusalem, which will never be divided again. This requires a commitment of the heart, but also practical actions. Our government guards Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty with everything we have! Many of us remember the small airport that operated here in Atarot for decades. I used it many times; it wasn't exactly JFK Airport in New York or Heathrow in London, but nevertheless, planes took off and landed in Atarot. Since today is also the memorial day for the visionary of our state, Herzl, I want to note that Herzl witnessed the initial blossoms of aviation's development during the very period he was active. Just one year before his passing, the first airplane flew. He even wrote a futuristic story about a 'guided airship.' He envisioned aerial transportation as a symbol for the Jewish state, which would rise and spread its wings before the eyes of all. And that is exactly what happened. Civil and military aviation in Israel have developed by leaps and bounds over the years. We see this in the War of Redemption, which established our aerial superiority in the skies of the Middle East, an achievement that has earned our Air Force a global reputation. It was recognized before, but after, with the roar of a lion, the entire world knows what kind of aerial might, what heroic pilots, and what ground crews the State of Israel possesses. Yet, long before the War of Redemption, we had brilliant achievements. We are currently marking 50 years since Operation Yonatan. The heroic IDF operation to rescue our people who were hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda, this operation stunned the entire world. Our fighters stormed the terminal in Entebbe, where the terrorists were holding the hostages. I was told there was an intention to run a mock exercise here, as the tower here is quite similar to the tower at the airport in Entebbe. However, the concern was that because there are people all around, it would expose our plans, which had to be kept strictly secret to ensure the operation's success. The operation did indeed succeed. Our forces eliminated the hijackers within minutes and freed the hostages. Our eldest brother Yoni, the commander of the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, the late Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, fell in action while leading the force. The role of the rescuing fighters in Operation Jonathan will be remembered forever, and in equal measure, the significant contribution of the Air Force to the success of the mission will also be remembered. The Chief-of-Staff at the time, the Minister of Defense at the time, and also the Prime Minister at the time, Yitzhak Rabin, wanted to hear from two people, from the actual commander of the rescue forces, Yoni. Peres asked him: 'Is it possible?' and he replied: 'Given the element of surprise, it is possible, and I believe we will succeed.' They also wanted to hear from Benny Peled, who was the Commander of the Air Force. He said the exact same thing. And those two individuals, on the ground and in the air, essentially gave the government the confidence to carry out this operation, which had seemed impossible. Four 'Hercules' aircraft flew the IDF force into the heart of Africa, a distance of nearly 4,000 km from Israel, for over seven hours. Seven hours there, and seven hours back. Our brave pilots landed the planes in Entebbe despite the harsh weather. They did so by surprise, without the Ugandan soldiers guarding the airport realizing what was happening. Parallel to the Hercules planes, two Boeing 707 aircraft flew in the area for coordination, control, and medical care. Operation Yonatan elevated Israel's standing among the nations, as a small country with colossal audacity: To ensure the victory of light over darkness. The story of the operation, on the ground and high in the skies, will be immortalized in the heritage center we will establish here in Atarot. And I want to emphasize: Just as the heroism of our fighters in the War of Redemption draws from the heroism of our fighters in Entebbe, so the heroism of Entebbe draws from the heroism of previous generations. And so the heroism of future generations will draw from the heroism of our fighters in the War of Redemption. The generation of victory – the generation of heroism. We also carry the heroes of the settlement in Atarot, in the 28 years preceding the establishment of the state, with full national gratitude. The settlers of Atarot invested an immense daily effort: A handful of Jewish defenders facing a large and hostile Arab population. Under the British Mandate, they developed economic sectors: Dairy production, orchards, and quarrying. They stood firm against the repeated attacks of those who sought our lives, who sought their lives, because they wanted to kill them, until all hope was exhausted, and given the evacuation order during the War of Independence, they left the place. But we returned here in the Six-Day War. I still remember my march during paratrooper basic training, climbing the mountain from the Modi'in area, and arriving here. I looked at this place on the way to the Western Wall and thought, here, we have returned. I tell you, that is what I thought. I thought that we were restoring former glory. And that is exactly what we are doing. On the lands of the original moshav, the northernmost outpost of Jerusalem, a thriving industrial park has risen, employing thousands of workers, Jews and Arabs alike. And the final word regarding the development of Atarot has not yet been spoken: As Prime Minister of Israel, I had the privilege of approving the establishment of the Har Homa neighborhood, and later the Givat HaMatos neighborhood, in southern Jerusalem. The compass pointed south back then. The Palestinian Authority wanted to push forward from Bethlehem into Jerusalem and bisect the city. So we built Har Homa and Givat HaMatos. We are expanding them today to ensure the integrity of Jerusalem. We are also developing northern Jerusalem: Atarot and its surroundings. Settlement, heroism, aviation, economy, love for Jerusalem – the new home will ensure that the heritage of past generations will be remembered for generations to come. Together, we will restore former glory to Atarot, which is precious to us all."

The Government approved the proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which implements the state’s commitment to continue standing alongside the survivors of the southern festivals in the long-term rehabilitation phase. As part of the decision, a plan was approved to continue and strengthen the framework of responses for the survivors of the 7 October 2023 southern festivals, aiming to ensure long-term continuity of care, rehabilitation, and employment for thousands of survivors and their families. Further information >> gov.il/en/pages/spoke…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Decides, Upon Recommendation of NSC Director Shmuel Ben-Ezra, to Appoint Ofir Levi as Deputy Director of the National Security Council. The Government, today, has approved the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appoint Col. (Res.) Ofir Levi as Deputy Director of the National Security Council (NSC), following the recommendation of NSC Director Shmuel Ben Ezra. Levi will assume the role, succeeding Gil Reich, who has concluded his term. Further information >> gov.il/en/pages/spoke…

Happy 4th of July America! Happy 250th Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke yesterday with U.S. President Donald Trump and congratulated him on the occasion of the 250th Independence Day of the United States of America. ​The Prime Minister said in the conversation that the U.S. is a guarantor of global freedom, and Israel highly appreciates the close bond between the two nations. ​Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet in the U.S. in the near future.